Arm Yourself With Knowledge!

Find natural calm.

When you need zen, go for a walk in nature, says Nina Smiley, the director of mindfulness programming at Mohonk Mountain House in New York and co-author of The Three Minute Meditator. Within a short time, you’ll start to take slower, deeper breaths, which activates your parasympathetic nervous system to lower your blood pressure, slow your heart rate and clear your mind. Pay close attention to the details around you to reap the biggest benefits, she adds. Trace your finger along the veiny spine of a leaf, listen to the crunch of twigs under your feet or feel the rough texture of a tree’s bark. Focusing on these things will ground you in the present and calm you even more effectively.